Sign character.



55. PATENTEDSEPT.31907. N0 8652 w. v. 1). KELLEY;

SIGN CHARACTER.

APPLICATION rum) JUNE 6. 1901.

a when PWi/Wo WlLLIAM V. D.- KELLEY, OF

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO JONES, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HOWARD s.

SIGN CHARACTER.

To all tlhOflL it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM V. D. KELLEY, a citizenof the United States, residingat; Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sign Characters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification. I

This invention relates to signs, and more particularly has reference to signs which will be visible both in re-.

fiected light and when illuminated from within;

The invention has a special application to signs on windows or sign boxes, and comprises a dark or comparatively opaque background on which sign charac- 'ters contrasting; therewith are placed in the ordinary manner, as by painting, raised characters, or the like, and in combination therewith are shadow portions lighter than both the background and the body itself,

and preferably constructed to transmit light. The cffect of such a sign will be that in reflected light the sign character will appear in contrast. with the background, and the lighter shadow portions of the character will accentuate the effect thereof similarly to a raised letter, while in transmitted light the letter will become 1 I visible in the diffused light and also by illusion, as the mind of the observer will piece out the portions of the letter not. illuminated In some constructions, the body of the letter itself will be translucent to a different degree than the shadow, but; in all cases associated with an opaque background.

The invention with respect to a preferred form thereof is exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in

which g 1 represents an opaque background, and 2 sign charactors or letters contrasting with the background, while 3 represents the contrasting shadow portionof the letter, which will vary in outline according to the particular style of lettering employed, but having in all. cases a contour such as will, when illuminated from behind, produce the-illusion of a complete letter, though the portions 3 are themselves separated. -In some in 'ter can be painted on glass and attached to the metal portion 1, or can be made of translucent meshed fabric having a coating ofc'ollodion or other similar material. In this case, the portion 2 of the letter, or body, can be painted on the netting or glass, with the portion 3 uncovered to permitj passage of. light. Also, such a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 6, 1907. Serial No. 377,495.

Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

metal sign couldbe made by simply cutting out the portions 3 to permit passage of light and have the portions 2 painted thereon or superposed in raised characters contrasting with the background 1. These raised letters can be made of wood or any other suitable material so arranged that the cut out portion 3 will form proper 3 Instead of using cut out metal and netting or glass,

the whole sign can be made up of glass having the opaque background 1 painted thereon and the contrasting body portion of the letter 2, leaving the separated portion "3 either unpainted or partially so according to the effect desired, but to at least transmit a portion of the light sl lfiiciently to give the effect of the entire letter when the front is not illuminated by reflected light.

By following the general construction as above described, a large variety of effects can be produced, depending upon the lettering and colors used, as well as upon the body portion 2 of the letter, whether entirely opaque butcontrasting with the background 1 or partially opaque'and contrasting with. the background.

, In all cases, the portion 3 is intended to transmit light,

in whole or in part, so as to enable the sign to be distinguished when'not lighted from infront. In some constructions, there will be suilicient diffusion of light passing through the spaces 3 to render the body portion 2,visiblc, but this is not necessary as with a proper contour of the spaces 3 it is not necessary to illuminate the body 2 So far as this feature ofilluminating the sign by transmitted light is concerned, it need only be composed of the portions 1 and 3, but in reflected light it is necessary to have the contrasting portion 2 visible without transmitted light. Also, this gives a more ornamental effect to the sign. I

The form and style of characters to be used in carrying out the invention will of course be capable of wide variation without departing from the scope of the invention, and also the invention is not to be restricted to any particular kinds of material.

It will be understood that the invention will be emprislng' an opaque body portion and separated light-transmitting shadow portions of such contour as, when iliuminated by transmitted light, to create the illusion of a,

complete letter.

a body portion contrasting therewith, and separated iight-- transmitting shadow portions.

4. A sign character comprising an opaque background, a character body thereon, and separated light-transmitting shadow portions on the shadow side of said body portion 5. A sign character comprisingan opaque background,

a continuous character body thereon, and separated lighttransmitting shadow portions on the shadow side of said body portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in preseuce'ot two witnesses.

WILLIAM -v. D. KELLEY.

Witnesses A.. K. SCHNEIDER, JULIAN S. woos'rnn. 

